Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-25

was glad to hear, IN passing through
Sc, eral southern states, that cOnserva-
tive citizens say public sentiment now re-
volts at the unlaWf methods TO defeat
the free exercise of the equal rights of
citizens that have been adopted in several
S ates, and are still practic.d in what are
known as the black counties of the south
AS long as such methods are resOrted to
there will be a keen sense of wrong
and injustice to the injured parties,
and those who practice such Offenses will
suffer for 1t. Sectional feeling will con-
tlnu3 to exist as long as large masses of
the people, whether poor or rich, white or
black, are denied their rights to share in
self government. 1t sets bad example
which the common classes in the north
have in some cases adopted to cheat at
the elections, as in Cincinnati two years
ago. 1t also produces inequality of
representation bet: cen the north and the
south, ard this keeps up the section lines
in parry politics. Il opens the way to
this corruption and fraud which, in time,
destroys all pretense Of Republican
government. But there is another
ground upon which | prefer
to base my appeal to the south for Justice
and fair play to the African race. 1t was
recently elOquentlY stated in a debate by
Senator Vest of Missouri that ~ have
nothing to say to any man who thinks !
to-day would grind the negro race OF one
cent. Ii any man in this world has reason
to be their friend an that man, raj ed
with them, nursed by them, an humble
owner of them IS inherited property. |
never bought or sold one for gain in my
life. They are doCile, gentle, inofen-
sive race, and the southern man who
would wrong them deserves to DE blotted
from the roll of manhood. When our wives
and children were in their hands during
the W2r, they acted SO as to make every
man in the south their friend who had
one particle Of manhood about him"
If this be so, as all history attests, then
we can appeal to our own race to protect
these freedmen from the laWlessness
and cruelty Of all those of our race
who may seek TO deprive them of !
by open force or by taking advantage of |
by Senator Vest, the manifested color |
line will disappear from American poll |
tics, and we can then look Only to the |
safety and development of one great and !
united country. The freedman in the |
full enjoy mens of his political rights will |
divide between the parties as other citi-
zens do and his labor will become 8 great ,
factor in the wealth and prosperity of the !
region in which ne lives. 1t is now con-
tributing it's full share in building up,
with great rspidlty, the section l have re-
Gently traversed, and it will be OF infinite
ly more value to the south than the heart
less labor of the slaves in Olden time.
Win these people by kindness and just re-
gard for their rights and they will vote
with you, and will do their full share to
make the south rich, prosperous and
happy.
l also wish to xpress in the strongest
language my admiration and respect
for the vim and energy with
which the south is grapp ing
with the new condition of labor and in
dustry by which they are surrounded, and
my confident belief is that within 8 single
generation your people will more than be
repaid for the value of their 8. ayes by the
results Of the diversified industry and ,
subdivision of the land. The time viii
come, and it seems now near at hand, /
when you and your children will rejoice,
not only that the slaves are free, but that
the Union has been preserved.
And now, fellow citizens, l gladly turn
to those questions Of national politics
which alike affect all parts OF cur coun-
try. and which alone ought to be the sub
iects of political discussion. What
are these? answer: Taxa
ton, currency, pGolic credit,
foreign and domestic commerce,
education, internal Improvements, topics
not sectional but OF vital Importance 10
all alike. Above ali, the mode Of ma
tionaI taXstiOn Is most important. It is
interviewer and dominates all other Ques-
tons. Whichever party is ia power will
ind it necessary to secure by some form
Of taxation about 500, 900, eco OF revenue.
The constitution gives 10 Congress the
power Of taxation. 1t may levy imports
Or duties on imported goods, excuses on
domestic production Or employments, and
also direct taxes OIL property. From the
nature of this power IL is only limited by
the puolic good and the general welfare.
Congress has very rarely levied direct
taxes on property for this is almost the
sole mode Of taxation for the support of
state and .ocai governments, and SO with
taxes on domestic productions. With
rare exceptions, caused by war or the re-
suit of war, taxes have not been levied by
Congress on any article of American pro-
Juction. At this time the only articles
made in this country subject to nationals,
tax are whisky, tobacco and beer.